Council to use £100,000 to advise businesses

But Torridge won't give cash directly to firms

Torridge Council’s community and resources committee has agreed to give £100,000 to help provide support for local businesses via a local authority-owned company called North Devon Plus.  

The company says there is a shortage of funded business support schemes in the area at the moment.

However, it’s not yet entirely clear what the business support cash will be spent. Speaking earlier this week, Sean Kearney, head of communities and place at Torridge District Council said: “The money for the scheme has been allocated and the precise details, level and nature of support is being worked on and will be announced shortly.”

At the community and resources meeting, officers said it was likely the money would go towards measures such as giving advice to businesses, rather than being given away as grants. They added that some of the businesses that receive the support would not be eligible for grants anyway. 

Councillor Peter Christie (Green, Bideford North) “To be honest I would have thought the businesses would have preferred the money rather than advice.”

Councillor Chris Bushby (Independent, Bideford North) concurred: “The money, in my opinion, should go straight to the businesses wherever possible.

“They need cash, they don’t need help and advice necessarily.”

Councillor Claire Hodson (Independent, Westward Ho!) was more supportive of the idea. She said: “We all recognise that a lot of businesses have to consider the business plans, have had to diversify, have had to seek new markets, have had to look at the way they trade.

“I think £100,000 to help companies which may not have that expertise and may not have a clear vision of the opportunities that there are there for them.

“I have empathy with Councillor Bushby’s comments about some people really needing the cash but I think this is on a bigger picture, on a bigger front to help restart businesses that may have really struggled is well worth the £100,000.”

The money comes from the £3.8 million Torridge received from the Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG), a government fund to help local businesses affected by covid restrictions. 

The council has so far given £3.2 million through the ARG to help local businesses. It must spend the remaining £600,000 before March 2022 or return the money to the government.

The community and resources committee agreed to give the money to North Devon Plus, with six members voting in favour, one against and two abstaining.

The council’s decision follows a similar decision made by North Devon Council on 2 August, which also agreed to use £100,000 from its ARG budget. The sum from each district will be treated separately, with each £100,000 being ring-fenced for business support in each district.